U.S. patent number 10,962,156 [Application Number 16/304,373] was granted by the patent office on 2021-03-30 for hose clamp.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Norma Germany GmbH. The grantee listed for this patent is NORMA Germany GmbH. Invention is credited to Yassine Bennai, Detlef Henrich, Mathias Krau, Frank Lange, Oliver Leusner, Bjorn Moller.
United States Patent |
10,962,156 |
Leusner , et al. |
March 30, 2021 |
Hose clamp
Abstract
A hose clamp includes a clamping strip and a tightening device
for tightening the clamping strip. A first clip element that is
arranged on the clamping strip allows the hose clamp to be secured
to a hose at an axially defined distance from a hose end. A second
clip element that is arranged on the clamping strip places the
clamping strip at a distance (A) from the outer surface of the
hose.
Inventors: |
Leusner; Oliver (Taunusstein,
DE), Bennai; Yassine (Vigneux sur Seine,
FR), Henrich; Detlef (Limeshain, DE),
Lange; Frank (Budingen, DE), Krau ; Mathias
(Nidderau, DE), Moller; Bjorn (Nidderau,
DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NORMA Germany GmbH |
Maintal |
N/A |
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Norma Germany GmbH (Maintal,
DE)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005453967 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/304,373 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2017 |
PCT
Filed: |
May 10, 2017 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP2017/061144 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
November 26, 2018 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2017/202609 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
November 30, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20190293216 A1 |
Sep 26, 2019 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
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May 24, 2016 [DE] |
|
|
102016109548.6 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L
33/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16L
33/08 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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101542179 |
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Sep 2009 |
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CN |
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101855487 |
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Oct 2010 |
|
CN |
|
102478137 |
|
May 2012 |
|
CN |
|
102494212 |
|
Jun 2012 |
|
CN |
|
19533553 |
|
Jan 1998 |
|
DE |
|
102006057497 |
|
Mar 2008 |
|
DE |
|
202011005396 |
|
Aug 2011 |
|
DE |
|
102006048336 |
|
Jul 2013 |
|
DE |
|
1939513 |
|
Jul 2008 |
|
EP |
|
2887321 |
|
Dec 2006 |
|
FR |
|
2010501797 |
|
Jan 2010 |
|
JP |
|
970043572 |
|
Jul 1997 |
|
KR |
|
Other References
First Japanese Office Action for Japanese Patent Application No.
2018-562038 dated Jan. 14, 2020 (6 pages). cited by applicant .
English Translation of First Japanese Office Action for Japanese
Patent Application No. 2018-562038 dated Jan. 14, 2020 (11 pages).
cited by applicant .
Korean Office Action for Korean Application No. 102018037366 dated
Mar. 17, 2020 (5 pages). cited by applicant .
English Translation of Korean Office Action for Korean Application
No. 102018037366 dated Mar. 17, 2020 (5 pages). cited by applicant
.
International Search Report for PCT/EP2017/061144, dated Aug. 3,
2017, 4 pages. cited by applicant .
English Translation of International Search Report for
PCT/EP2017/061144, dated Aug. 3, 2017, 3 pages. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Bochna; David
Assistant Examiner: Linford; James A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reising Ethington, P.C.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A hose clamp comprising a clamping band and a tightening device
for tightening the clamping band, wherein a first clip element is
arranged on the clamping band which is configured to fix the hose
clamp to a hose at an axially determined distance from a hose end,
wherein a second clip element is arranged on the clamping band
which positions the clamping band at a radial distance from an
outside surface of the hose, wherein the second clip element
comprises a latching portion in which the clamping band is latched
prior to the tightening of the tightening device and from which the
clamping band is releasable when the tightening device is
tightened, wherein the second clip element is formed from a
one-part and multiply-curved sheet metal element, wherein the sheet
metal element comprises an end portion which is configured to be
held between clamping band and the hose once the tightening device
has been tightened, wherein an embossing which protrudes in the
direction of the end portion is arranged in a base of the latching
portion, the embossing being configured to press onto an outside of
the clamping band when the clamping band is latched.
2. The hose clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second clip
element is arranged on the clamping band generally diametrically
opposite the first clip element.
3. The hose clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first clip
element is configured to tightly border or abut the clamping band
on or against the outside surface of the hose in the region of the
first clip element.
4. The hose clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spacer portion
is arranged between the latching portion and the end portion.
5. The hose clamp as claimed in claim 4, wherein the latching
portion, the end portion and the spacer portion form an U-shaped
part of the sheet metal element, wherein the latching portion and
the end portion form legs of the U-shaped part of the sheet metal
element and extend approximately parallel to one another, wherein
the spacer portion forms a base portion of the U-shaped part of the
sheet metal element and extends perpendicularly to the latching
portion and to the end portion.
6. The hose clamp as claimed in claim 5, wherein the latching
portion comprises two indentations, wherein edges of the clamping
band are configured to be received in a latching manner between the
indentations and the base of the latching portion.
7. The hose clamp as claimed claim 1, wherein, beginning from the
latching portion, a fastening portion is continued with a clamp
part which is configured to fasten the second clip element to the
hose end.
8. The hose clamp as claimed in claim 7, wherein a reinforcement
bead resides in the sheet metal element at the transition between
the latching portion and the fastening portion.
Description
INTRODUCTION
The present disclosure relates to a hose clamp having a clamping
band and having a tightening device for tightening the clamping
band, wherein a first clip element is arranged on the clamping band
by way of which the hose clip is fixable to a hose at an axially
determined distance from a hose end.
DE 10 2006 057 497 A1 discloses a hose clamp having a clamping band
and having a tightening device for tightening the clamping band,
three clip elements being arranged uniformly distributed over the
circumference of the clamping band. By way of the clip elements,
the hose clamp is fixable to a hose end concentrically to the hose
at an axially defined distance from a hose end. If the hose clamp
is situated on the hose, a constant distance is set between the
outside surface of the hose and the clamping band over the entire
surface. If the tightening device is actuated and consequently the
clamping band is tightened, the clamping band can be released from
the clip elements one after another. As a result, the clamping band
is then no longer situated in a holding connection with the clip
elements. The clip elements, however, can remain on the hose end in
a functionless manner, for example as a result of crimping said
hose end.
When removing the clamping band from the three clip elements, the
order in which the clamping band can be released from the clip
elements is left to chance. The tightening device can thus migrate
in the circumferential direction as a result, in particular when
the end of the clamping band is pulled into the tightening device.
A further disadvantage occurs as a result of the preset diameter of
the hose clamp having to correspond with the diameter of the hose
on account of the defined geometry of the clip elements. There is
only limited compensation possibility, for example by means of a
one-sided bulge of the clamping band. A further disadvantage occurs
in the case of a tightened hose clamp as a result of the clip
elements no longer being in contact with the clamping band and the
clip elements being able to come loose over a longer service life
as a result of the rather weakly holding crimping connection to the
hose end.
SUMMARY
An object of the disclosure, in an embodiment, is the provision of
a hose clamp with improved positioning on a hose. In particular,
the object consists in, with as little expenditure as possible,
enabling variable pre-positioning of the hose clamp on the hose and
creating compensation of diameters. In this case, the clip element,
in particular, is to be able to be held securely on the hose once
the clamping band has been released.
The disclosure, in an embodiment, includes the technical teaching
that in addition to the first clip element at least one second clip
element is arranged on the clamping band which positions the
clamping band at a radial distance from the outside surface of the
hose.
The disclosure, in this case, makes use of the possibility of using
at least two clip elements for prefixing the clamping band on the
hose, a first clip element moving the clamping band in particular
directly into contact with the hose surface of the hose, whilst the
second clip element is realized at a radial distance such that the
clamping band forms a type of bulge over the outside surface of the
hose in the region of the second clip element. The achievement here
is that different preset diameters of hose clip can be compensated
for by the second clip element. A third clip element is not
necessary in every case but can be provided as an option. The first
clip element, in this case, serves in particular for fixing the
axial distance between the clamping band and the hose end and the
second clip element also serves for the axial fixing but also for
determining a radial distance between the clamping band and the
outside surface of the hose. Consequently, the hose clamp is
prepositioned in a defined manner on the hose end in the
circumferential direction and in the axial direction. In this case,
the hose clamp is effectively prevented from tilting.
An advantageous arrangement, in an embodiment, when using precisely
two clip elements provides that the second clip element is arranged
on the clamping band approximately diametrically opposite the first
clamping band. A diametrically opposite arrangement of the two clip
elements means that the hose clamp is prefixed on the hose in a
tipsafe manner. With three clip elements, uniform distribution over
the circumference of the hose clamp is often advantageous.
The first clip element, in this case, is realized, in particular,
such that the clamping band extends tightly bordering on or
abutting against the outside surface of the hose in the region of
the first clip element. The second clip element being arranged
opposite the first clip element produces a distance between the
clamping band and the outside surface of the hose prior to the
tightening of the clamping band. Consequently, a crescent-shaped
opening, which comprises a maximum opening width in the region of
the second clip element, is created between the clamping band and
the hose cross section.
Further advantageously, in an embodiment, the second clip element
comprises a latching portion into which the clamping band is
latched prior to the tightening of the tightening device and from
which the clamping band is automatically releasable when the
tightening band is tightened. The advantage of the clip element not
having to deform plastically is achieved as a result. In addition,
the clamping band can bridge the distance between the clamping band
and the outside surface of the hose during the tightening of the
tightening device. For this purpose, the connection between the
clamping band and the clip element provides that when a certain
tightening force is achieved, the clamping band is released from
the latching portion such that the clamping band is able to abut
against the outside surface over the entire surface without causing
the clip element to deform plastically.
According to a further development of the hose clamp, in an
embodiment, the second clip element is formed from a one-part and
multiply-curved sheet metal element, wherein the sheet metal
element comprises an end portion which is realized such that, once
the tightening device has been tightened, it is held between
clamping band and hose. The end portion extends, in this case, in
such a manner to the latching portion that the clamping band is
released from the latching portion when the clamping device is
tightened, the clamping band moving into abutment against the end
portion and when the tightening device is definitively tightened,
jamming the end portion between the clamping band and the outside
surface of the hose. As a result thereof, the clip element is fixed
to the hose end of the clamping band in addition to the crimping
such that the clip element is held non-functionally but captively
on the hose end. In particular, said advantage is achieved by the
end portion overlapping with the latching portion.
According to a further advantageous design of the second clip
element, in an embodiment, a spacer portion is realized between the
latching portion and the end portion. The end portion, in this
case, already abuts against the outside surface of the hose in the
prefixed state of the hose clamp. The spacer portion then ensures
that the latching portion assumes the desired distance from the
outside surface of the hose. Once the clamping band is situated
latched in the latching portion, the clamping band finally obtains
the desired distance from the outside surface in the region of the
second clip element.
The clip element is realized, in particular in an embodiment, such
that the latching portion, the end portion and the spacer portion
form a U-shaped part of the sheet metal element, wherein the
latching portion and the end portion form legs of the U-shape and
extend approximately parallel to one another, wherein the spacer
portion forms a base portion of the U-shape and extends
perpendicularly to the latching portion and to the end portion.
In a design according to an embodiment, the latching portion is
defined in particular by two indentations, wherein edges of the
clamping band are receivable in a latching manner between the
indentations and a base of the latching portion. The clamping band,
in this case, prior to the tightening of the hose clamp, can be
held under light pretension between the base and the indentations
of the latching portion and can, in particular, abut against the
base. As a result, the clip element is fixed in a non-positive
locking manner on the clamping band also in the circumferential
direction.
The indentations, in this case, can extend over the entire width of
the clip element. In a design in an embodiment, which is
advantageous, in particular, for smaller clamp diameters, the
indentations extend only over part of the width of the clip element
and are arranged, in this case, in particular centrally.
In a manner, in this case, an embossing, which protrudes in the
direction of the end portion, is realized in the base of the
latching portion. Said embossing, with the clip element mounted,
then presses onto the outside of the clamping band. Higher forces
are thus transmissible in the circumferential direction between
clip element and clamping band.
Beginning from the latching portion, a fastening portion with a
clamp part can be realized in the sheet metal element, by way of
which fastening portion the second clip element is fastenable to
the hose end. The fastening portion with the clamp part, in this
case, forms a first end of the sheet metal element, the end portion
forming a second end of the sheet metal element for the holding
arrangement of the clip element between the clamping band and the
outside surface of the hose. The sheet metal element is realized
continuously in particular with a constant width between said two
ends. In this embodiment, further advantageously, a reinforcement
bead can be inserted into the sheet metal element at the transition
between the latching portion and the fastening portion. Unwanted
plastic deformation of the clip element is largely prevented by way
of the reinforcement bead.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Further measures improving the disclosure together with the
description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the disclosure
are shown in more detail below by way of the figures, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a view of a hose clamp having a first clip element and
having a second clip element located opposite thereto,
FIG. 2 shows the hose clamp according to FIG. 1 in an arrangement
on a hose and
FIG. 3 shows a view of a detail of the second clip element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a hose clamp 1 having a clamping band
10 and a tightening device 11 for tightening the clamping band 10.
As a result of activating the tightening device 11, a free end of
the clamping band 10 is pulled into the tightening device 11 such
that the diameter of the hose clamp 1 is correspondingly reduced. A
first clip element 12 is shown in an arrangement on the clamping
band 10. In an approximately diametrically opposite position, the
hose clamp 1 comprises a second clip element 15 which is also
arranged on the clamping band 10. At least the second clip element
15, in this case, is not received in a non-releasable manner on the
clamping band 10 but is held on the second clip element 10 in a
purely latching manner. The first clip element 12 can be fixedly
connected to the clamping band 10, it also being possible for it to
be releasably connected to the clamping band 10 as an alternative.
In particular, it is possible for all the clip elements to be
designed in an identical manner.
FIG. 2 shows the hose clamp 1 in an arrangement on a hose 13. The
first clip element 12 and the second clip element 15 rest on a hose
end 14 and are crimped to said hose end. The first clip element 12,
in this case, is realized such that the clamping band 10 extends
tightly bordering on or abutting against the outside surface of the
hose 13 in the region of the first clip element 12. The second clip
element 15 is realized such that the clamping band 10 extends at a
radial distance from the outside surface of the hose 13. As a
result of said arrangement, tilt-safe fixing of the hose clamp 1 on
the hose 13 is achieved. If the tightening device 11 is actuated,
the clamping band 10 is released from the second clip element 15
and the distance A is overcome such that a crescent-shaped opening
23 is closed. In this case, the clamping band 10 abuts against the
outside surface of the hose 13 over its entire surface and is thus
able to introduce a radially inwardly directed holding force.
FIG. 3 shows a profile view of the second clip element 15 which is
formed from a continuous, strip-shaped sheet metal element 17. The
clip element 15, in this case, is shown from the side. In order to
crimp the second clip element 15 on the hose end 14, the clip
element 15 is provided with a clamp part 21 in a fastening portion
20. Using a corresponding crimping device, the sheet metal element
17 can be plastically deformed in the region of the clamp part 21
in such a manner that the fastening portion 20 locks right around
an open hose end 14 of the hose 13.
In the transition from the fastening portion 20 to a latching
portion 16, the sheet metal element 17 comprises a reinforcement
bead 22, the achievement of said reinforcement bead being that the
plastic deformation of the fastening portion 20 does not continue
into the latching portion 16. The latching portion 16 serves for
the purpose of holding the clamping band 10 at a releasable force,
for which purpose the end regions of the latching portions 16
comprise indentations 24.
A spacer portion 19 connects to the indentation 24, which is
realized on the right-hand side in the image plane, on the latching
portion 16. The end portion 18 then connects to the spacer portion
19. The latching portion 16, the end portion 18 and the spacer
portion 19, in this case, form a U-shape, the spacer portion 19
extending between two legs of the U-shape which extend
perpendicularly to the spacer portion 19 and are formed by the
latching portion 16 and the end portion 18. Consequently, the end
portion 18 extends along behind the latching portion 16 by way of
an overlap.
The latching portion 16, in this case, is defined by two
indentations 24. Said indentations 24, in this case, do not extend
in particular over the entire width of the clip element but only
over part, being realized in particular in a central manner. The
indentations consequently lead, on the one hand, to a reinforcement
of the clip element, on the other hand a secure hold can be
achieved even in the case of smaller clamp diameters.
With the clip element mounted, edges of the clamping band reach
under the indentations 24, such that the clamping band is held
between the indentations and a base of the latching portion 16, in
particular under pretension. When the hose clamp is tightened, the
edges of the clamping band slide past the indentations 24 and the
clamping band moves out of latching engagement with the latching
portion 16.
In order to obtain greater friction between the clamping band and
the clip element 15, an embossing 25 can be realized in the base of
the latching portion. Said embossing, with the clip mounted,
presses onto an outside of the clamping band. The clip element is
thus fixed securely on the clamping band also in the
circumferential direction.
If the clamping band 10 moves out of latching engagement with the
latching portion 16, the clamping band 10 thus abuts against the
outside surface of the hose 13. In this case, it jams the end
portion 18 between the clamping band 10 and the hose 13. As a
result, the second clip element 15, with hose clamp 1 tightened, is
fixed between the clamping band 10 and the hose 13, said fixing
being generated at the hose end 14 in addition to the crimping of
the fastening portion 20.
The invention is not limited in its realization to the preferred
exemplary embodiment specified above. A number of variants, which
make use of the solution shown even in the case of basically
different realizations, are in fact conceivable. All features
and/or advantages, including structural details or spatial
arrangements, derived from the claims, the description or the
drawings can be essential to the invention both on their own and in
the most varied combinations.
It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one
or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The
invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed
herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below.
Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description
relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as
limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of
terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is
expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various
changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will
become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other
embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within
the scope of the appended claims.
As used in this specification and claims, the terms "for example,"
"for instance," "such as," and "like," and the verbs "comprising,"
"having," "including," and their other verb forms, when used in
conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other
items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the
listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional
components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their
broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that
requires a different interpretation.
LIST OF REFERENCES
1 Hose clamp 10 Clamping band 11 Tensioning device 12 First clip
element 13 Hose 14 Hose end 15 Second clip element 16 Latching
portion 17 Sheet metal element 18 End portion 19 Spacer portion 20
Fastening portion 21 Clamp part 22 Reinforcement bead 23
Crescent-shaped opening 24 Indentation 25 Embossing A Distance
* * * * *